By Joyce Ekeh
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has unveiled a 100-point manifesto, promising a public scorecard to track his performance and hold his administration accountable if elected in 2027.
Presenting the manifesto, tagged The Lagos Promise, Hamzat said 87 pledges were firm commitments within the state government’s powers, while 13 were aspirations requiring wider consultations and partnerships with the Federal Government and other institutions.
“A single plan tells you what will be delivered, where it will be delivered, when, and who is accountable. If one of the commitments is not delivered, it will be noted, and I must own it,” he said.
The manifesto is built around seven pillars covering people-centred governance, infrastructure renewal, economic opportunities, government efficiency, inclusion, security and everyday welfare.
Hamzat promised that accountability would begin within his first 100 days in office, with the introduction of a bill to establish a Child Protection and Nutrition Agency and the creation of a Lagos State Service Delivery Office to monitor and publish progress on the pledges.
“Accountability will not wait for the end of my term. It begins in my first 100 days,” he declared.
He also promised that government offices would acknowledge complaints within 48 hours and resolve them within 30 days, alongside regular town hall meetings and annual performance reports.
On healthcare, the APC candidate pledged to increase maternal and child health centres from 10 to 15, upgrade 100 primary healthcare centres, expand health insurance coverage and complete ongoing hospital projects, while building two additional general hospitals.
“A mother is the first government a child will ever know. The mothers of Lagos are the makers of Lagos,” he said.
In education, he promised stronger public schools and improved teacher training, insisting that every child should have access to education.
“Every child in Lagos belongs in school, and we will bring every one of them in,” he said.
Hamzat also pledged support for small businesses, artisans, farmers and creative enterprises through improved access to credit, training, permits and government procurement opportunities.
“Most of the jobs that Lagos needs will be created by you,” he told entrepreneurs. “My job is to make it easier for you to grow and to hire.”
He further promised to equip young people with skills in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics and the Internet of Things.
“Government owes you three things: cheaper broadband, better security and room to build,” he said.
On transportation, he proposed expanding the public bus fleet, improving inner roads and extending rail and water transport links to create a more integrated transport system. Housing, security, water supply and waste management also featured in the manifesto.
Hamzat said residents should scrutinise the document and hold him accountable for its implementation.
“Take the promise, read it, question it. Find the commitment that matters most to you, your family, your street and your community,” he urged.
Lagos needs continuity, not experimentation _ Sanwo-Olu
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu endorsed his deputy, describing him as an experienced public servant capable of sustaining ongoing development projects.
Sanwo-Olu, who said he had worked closely with Hamzat for seven years, recalled the 2018 governorship contest, when party leaders asked his deputy, who was also seeking the APC ticket, to step aside.
“I have thought many times about what it costs a man to put down the things he wants most for the benefit of someone else,” the governor said.
He praised their working relationship, saying: “In seven years, there has not been one day—not one—when I had to wonder whose side my deputy was on.”
Sanwo-Olu described succession as a relay race, urging Hamzat to complete ongoing projects and build on existing achievements.
“Continuity does not mean repeating ourselves. It means finishing what has started, fixing what is not working and starting what comes next,” he said.
He added: “Let no Lagosian ever say that what we started together was abandoned.”
Former Senator Musiliu Olatunde Obanikoro also endorsed Hamzat, saying Lagos must sustain its development trajectory.
“Lagos cannot afford to stagnate. It cannot afford to go backwards. It must move forward,” he said.
APC Lagos State Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, described the manifesto as “a covenant between a political party, its candidates and the electorate,” urging party members to take its message to communities across the state.
“Continuity does not mean complacency. It means building on proven achievements, addressing identified shortcomings and pursuing greater progress,” he said.
Former Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Sosan, speaking on behalf of the Governance Advisory Council, said successive administrations had contributed to Lagos’ development.
“Continuity does not mean that we should refuse to change. It means that we learn from experience, build on our achievements and respond to the changing needs of our people,” she said.
Sosan also cited Hamzat’s experience as commissioner and deputy governor as relevant to his understanding of the state’s institutions and challenges.
